Courage
By the time the evaluation battle ended, midnight had already passed.
“The Gate raid could not have been easy, yet all of you worked truly hard. I hope this experience proves helpful to you. Now then, those who wish to return may return, and those who wish to rest may rest at ease.”
Grandfather gave the order to disperse to the people gathered before the artificial Gate.
Only then did everyone relax.
Soon, with exhaustion plain on their faces, they bowed to Grandfather and left one by one.
“Sieun and Gyeonu, remain where you are. Let us go to the treasury right away. The sooner one receives a gift, the better.”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
“If any of you wish to come along as well, you may. However, you will not be allowed inside the treasury.”
“…”
Grandfather was the first to start walking.
Do Sieun and I, who had remained behind, quickly followed after him.
Then, perhaps curious about what sort of treasures we would choose, several people quietly followed us.
Naturally, my family was among them.
“Well done. I was watching from the cliff, and there really wasn’t anything to criticize. It seems you can use Byeongnoe properly now, too.”
“Ah, Dad.”
“But how did you know about the fruit?”
Father set his hand lightly on my shoulder.
While praising my skills, he seemed curious about how I had known of the fruit that grew wild inside the Gate.
I decided to gloss over it.
“I saw it in a book before. It looked similar to what was described there, so I thought maybe it was the same. I was lucky.”
“If you ate it knowing what it was, then that’s fine. Still, be careful when eating something without having it appraised. Among the animals and plants that grow inside Gates, there are cases where they look alike but are actually completely different.”
Father admonished me gently.
Since I understood his concern, I decided to nod along as if I did not possess an appraisal ability.
“Yes, from now on, I’ll be careful…”
I was about to agree, but…
“‘Maybe’?”
“…”
Mother was smiling brightly.
I found myself at a loss for words.
“So in the end, you ate it to confirm what it was?”
“M-Mom…”
Father quietly edged away.
Mother came right up to me and began kneading both my shoulders.
No, she was pinching them hard.
And the voice that came from behind my neck was nothing short of chilling.
“What would you have done if you’d eaten it wrong and gotten an upset stomach, or if it had been poisonous?”
“The Pakit Ape ate it just fine, so I thought it probably wasn’t poisonous…”
“Backtalk.”
“…From now on, I’ll eat only after I know what it is.”
“You’ll have to be careful when you eat it too, won’t you?”
“Yes.”
Fortunately, since there were people around us, Mother did not scold me loudly.
Only when she let go of my shoulders could I let out a sigh of relief.
Then, I felt someone’s gaze.
Do Sieun was looking at me with a fascinated expression.
“What is it?”
“You look close with your family.”
“Is yours not like that?”
“Ours is… probably ordinary? I think.”
Perhaps it was because we had defeated the tree spirit together.
Unlike before, when she had barely spoken, she now exchanged a few words with me here and there.
It was then.
“I want to eat fruit too!”
Yeeun suddenly cut in.
She hugged me from behind.
“Oppa, don’t you have any fruit left? I want to try some too…”
Yeeun’s eyes sparkled brightly.
She clung to me and pestered me.
‘I figured this would happen…’
I gave a bitter smile.
As it happened, I had one Fruit of Energy left over, which I had kept in preparation for fighting the tree spirit.
“Here. I saved this for you.”
“Wow! Oppa, you’re the best!”
I took the fruit out of my waist pouch and handed it to Yeeun.
Yeeun’s face lit up.
“It’s sticky, but it’s super sweet!”
“Do you want to try a Fruit of Vitality too?”
“Huh? You’re giving it to me? Thanks, unnie!”
Perhaps because watching Yeeun eat the fruit looked so hearty and satisfying.
Do Sieun, who had been walking in step beside me, also took a fruit out of her waist pouch.
Thanks to that, Yeeun was able to taste a Fruit of Vitality as well.
Not long after that.
We arrived at the treasury.
* * *
The treasury, located in the deepest underground level of the main building, was protected like an iron fortress by several overlapping layers of barrier magic.
That was only what I could perceive; if I considered the things I could not detect, its security level was likely no joke.
“Most of the treasures kept by the main family are related to the history of the Divine Sword Do Family, and many of them symbolize the clan itself. Because this place is so important, throughout our entire history, not many people aside from the Patriarch have entered the main building’s treasury.”
“…”
“And now, you two have joined that rare group.”
After saying that.
Grandfather poured mana into the iron door and placed his hand on the handle, which had the face of a lion protruding from it.
Then he pushed the handle left and right.
‘…So it was a sliding door.’
The treasury’s mechanism activated.
The two iron doors clanked as they slid to either side.
Then a wind blew from within.
‘The mana is dense.’
A wind accompanied by the presence of mana.
It was the energy contained in the treasures stored in the treasury leaking out.
Feeling the highly concentrated mana, I tried to peer beyond the iron doors.
The inside was empty.
“There is concealment magic cast so that one cannot look inside from outside the door. If you wish to see, enter and do so.”
Grandfather resolved my doubt.
Then he searched inside his clothes.
“Sieun, Gyeonu.”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
“Put these on before you enter. That way, the treasury will recognize you as authorized individuals.”
Necklaces engraved with the family crest.
Do Sieun and I put on the necklaces Grandfather handed us.
“Can we go inside now?”
“Yes. We will wait here, so go inside, choose one treasure you want, and come out.”
“Can we really choose anything?”
It went without saying.
The ownership of treasures granted by the family did not become completely mine.
With the exception of treasures such as elixirs or consumables, it was more accurate to see them as being loaned by the family.
Even so, Grandfather saying that he would give us treasures kept by the main family was an extremely extraordinary matter.
As Grandfather had said just moments ago, the place inside was surely filled with treasures that symbolized the family.
‘In the game, it was mentioned that among the treasures of the Divine Sword Do Family, there was even a sword that could kill an opponent in a single strike…’
In that case, I might be able to take a broken-level item mentioned in the game’s setting.
So I asked Grandfather again to confirm.
Then Grandfather said.
“As Patriarch, I have said it officially. I cannot take back words I have already spoken. You may bring out any one thing you desire from the treasury.”
“Oh.”
“However.”
Grandfather’s gaze fixed on me.
“I hope you choose the treasure most necessary to you. I doubt either of you would do such a thing, but if you were to choose a treasure unsuited to your level, I might be disappointed in you then.”
“…”
“I hope you choose wisely.”
In truth, I had not expected much.
There was no way Grandfather would just hand such a treasure over to us.
I decided not to get greedy for no reason and instead choose the treasure I had marked out beforehand.
“For reference, the security magic installed inside will check the treasure you take outside. So do not even think of secretly taking any treasure other than the one I have permitted.”
“…”
Tch, I had wondered, but as expected.
Regrettably, it seemed I would have to give up on the idea of secretly taking another treasure out.
I avoided Grandfather’s eyes, which seemed to have seen right through my thoughts.
“Then there is no need to worry about time, so go inside and examine things at your leisure.”
* * *
The moment I stepped into the treasury.
The security magic, which had been hiding its presence as if it were there and yet not there, descended upon us.
But the effect of the necklaces activated, and after scanning our bodies, the security magic vanished as if nothing had happened.
It had permitted our entry.
After we took a few steps from there.
“Ah, I can see it.”
The treasury, which had been hidden by concealment magic until now, revealed itself.
“…”
“Ah…”
Compared to the size of the space, the number of treasures enshrined there was not particularly large.
Even so, not once did it feel empty. Each and every treasure visible to the eye exuded majesty simply by existing.
As I took in the sight of treasures giving off extraordinary auras, I felt as if I had been bewitched by something.
Do Sieun seemed to feel something similar, as a quiet exclamation escaped her.
“Shall we go take a closer look?”
“Ah, yeah. Let’s.”
We could not remain dazed forever.
We came to our senses and decided to look around the treasury.
Do Sieun quietly followed behind me, looking at the treasures.
‘So the Lightning Essence is here too.’
[Lightning Essence]
◆ Consumable Category
—Elixir
◆ Detailed Description
—An inner core condensed with the energy of a thunderbird.
◆ Detailed Effects
—Upon absorption, converts all attacks that consume mana within the body into the lightning attribute.
—Upon absorption, changes the character’s affinity attribute to lightning.
—Upon absorption, grants dramatic resistance to lightning-attribute attacks. Also converts attacks that make contact into MP.
—Upon absorption, lightning…
The Lightning Essence had been difficult to obtain even in the game.
I pulled my gaze away from the orb that seemed to contain a thunderbolt.
‘It’s not that I’m not tempted… but it isn’t all that necessary for me.’
Now that I could use Byeongnoe, the effects possessed by the Lightning Essence did not seem especially attractive.
Besides, while the Lightning Essence was difficult to obtain, it was not completely impossible to get.
If I ever needed the Lightning Essence, I could think about it then.
‘I don’t know when I’ll be able to enter the main family’s treasury again. I can’t choose a treasure that can be obtained elsewhere.’
According to the game’s story, I was supposed to enter this treasury again.
Taking that into account, twice.
So, as Grandfather said, it was better to choose wisely and pick something that could only be obtained from the main family’s treasury.
For example, a sword.
‘Ah, the Gate Key is over there. That’s probably the Gate Key Kang Hanbyeol receives in the game, right? Hm… the blue one never appeared in the game, though.’
Passing the place where the Gate Keys were enshrined.
I went farther inside.
Then I found the armaments.
“…”
Swords hung on the wall.
Keeping some distance, I examined the form of each sword one by one.
‘The Water King Sword is here too.’
The Water King Sword, a treasured sword signifying the qualifications of the Patriarch of the Divine Sword Do Family, hung in the very center of the wall.
“Ah.”
Soon, one sword caught my eye.
[Suyeon Sword]
◆ Equipment Category
—One-handed sword
◆ Detailed Description
—One of the swords favored by Do Mingeon, the second Patriarch of the Divine Sword Do Family.
—A sword that, under the blessing of Undine, the Spirit King of Water, in the red Gate “Undine’s Island V,” cast off its old, worn appearance and was born anew.
—It tests its owner.
◆ Detailed Effects
—Stamina +3, Strength +3
—When equipped, consumes mana within the body to create water droplets.
—(Unlock Condition: Strength 50 or higher)
The Suyeon Sword, whose name carried the meaning of water mist formed by a dense spread of droplets.
It was a sword that appeared in the game as well.
‘It’s the sword that symbolizes Sieun noona.’
Looking at the blade, which seemed as though water mist were shimmering across it, I gave a bitter smile.
Since Do Sieun had possessed the Suyeon Sword from the moment she appeared in the game, it seemed likely that she had obtained it around this time.
So I decided to call her over as she was examining swords off to one side.
“Sieun noona, could you come over here?”
“Yeah, why?”
“What do you think of this sword?”
“Ah…”
I pointed at the Suyeon Sword.
Then Do Sieun discovered the sword and let out a low exclamation.
She stared endlessly at the Suyeon Sword, unaware that I was standing beside her.
‘They say you instinctively know the moment you see a weapon that suits you. Is she communing with the sword or something?’
Do Sieun did not seem to realize it, but from the moment she saw the Suyeon Sword, her mouth had remained slightly open.
Her blue eyes were wide as well.
Watching her reaction, I spoke to her casually.
“It seems like a really good sword, doesn’t it? Since it converts mana inside the body into water droplets, I think it would have good compatibility with Byeongnoe.”
“…You’re right.”
In the game, Do Sieun had indeed used the power of the Suyeon Sword that way to greatly amplify Byeongnoe.
It was a sword highly compatible with Byeongnoe.
Then, she turned her head toward me.
“Are you… going to choose this sword?”
Her voice trembled.
And her blue eyes wavered.
Do Si-eun might not have known, but I could see the anxiety on her face.
Enough to make it painfully clear that she wanted the Suyeon Sword.
Seeing her make an expression I had never once seen in the game, I chuckled.
“Honestly, isn’t it the kind of sword anyone who uses the Suwang Style would covet?”
“Ah… true….”
“But I don’t think it suits me.”
“Huh?”
“Unlike you, noona, I don’t have that much mana inside my body. So I don’t think I’d be able to handle the Suyeon Sword well.”
That was how I honestly felt.
The Suyeon Sword was truly a fine blade, but it would be burdensome for me to use.
For someone like me, whose magic stat was only a little over 30, a combat style with heavy mana consumption didn’t suit me at all.
Most of all.
‘I can’t take this noona’s fated opportunity from her.’
That was the biggest reason.
If it were a fated opportunity meant for a villain, that would be one thing, but I didn’t want to steal the opportunities of those who would stand on the side of good alongside Gang Han-byeol.
If I needlessly took their opportunities and something went wrong, it might have a bad effect on the game’s story.
“Actually, I think the Suyeon Sword suits you better, noona. What do you think?”
“…I like it. No, I like it. I really like it.”
And so I decided to yield the Suyeon Sword to Do Si-eun.
She couldn’t pull herself together.
The way she stammered, so unlike someone called the Lightning Flower, was quite funny.
Soon, she smiled so brightly it was almost dazzling.
“Thank you so much.”
“If you’re grateful, take good care of me.”
“Take good care of you… how?”
“Whether it’s in the family or in Academy City a few years from now, if I ask for help, you help me, noona.”
“Ah, okay. If there’s ever anything I can help with, just tell me. As long as it’s not something bad, I’ll help you as much as I can.”
“Really? You promised, okay?”
“Yeah.”
Not even realizing she’d been hooked by me.
Do Si-eun hugged the Suyeon Sword in both arms and couldn’t hide her joy.
“But what are you going to do? If you’re looking for a sword too… I’ll help you find one.”
“Thanks, but there’s no need.”
I declined Do Si-eun’s consideration.
Then I walked a little farther from the wall where the Suyeon Sword had been hanging.
“I’ve already found mine too.”
“…You have?”
If there was a sword that symbolized Do Si-eun, then Do Gyeon-woo, who had even more significance than her, had such a sword as well.
The sword that symbolized Do Gyeon-woo… no, me.
At last, I stood before that sword and raised the corners of my mouth.
“I’m going with this one.”
“That’s….”
A sword with an edge on only one side.
A pitch-black blade with no decorations to be found.
I took the sword down from the wall and tilted it beneath the light.
‘I’m sure.’
A sword that scattered a deep ultramarine light depending on the angle.
It was the Guncheong Sword (群靑劍).
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss